Terror strikes IT city; one dead as 7 blasts rock Bangalore

Bangalore/New Delhi, Jul 25 (UNI) Terror revisited India's IT capital after three years when seven successive blasts ripped through the city this afternoon, killing a woman on the spot and leaving at least seven people injured.

Police said a woman was killed in the first blast, reported in Madiwala junction, at around 1340 hrs. Shree Ravi, who was waiting for a bus, was killed on the spot while her husband and son were injured.

In a space of five minutes, another blast was triggered near a drain in Adugodi in which one person was seriously injured.

This was followed by blasts in places near Mallya Hospital, R V College, Pantherapallya near Nayandahalli on the Bangalore-Mysore highway and Langford Road.

The blast at Langford road left one injured.

City Police Commissioner Shankar M Bidari told newspersons that improvised explosive devices were used in the blasts which occurred on footpaths and improvised detonators and mobile phones were used to trigger the explosions. He said the explosives used in two places -- Madiwala and Nayandahalli -- were powerful in nature, while crude devices were used in other areas.

He said police recovered explosive material at the park in Rajaram Mohan Roy road, including sulphuric acid and urea stacked in a pack. ''The materials recovered, however, were not bombs but supportive materials that could have been utilised in making bombs,'' he said.

A senior police office, who did not want to be named, said the blasts could be the handiwork of Maoist groups who were known to produce such explosives made from locally available materials.

Forensic experts and bomb disposal squads were rushed to the spot immediately and the areas were cordoned off by the police.

A high alert has been sounded across the state. A red alert has also been sounded in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said the heinous act was intended to trigger panic among people and disturb peace. He announced a solatium of Rs one lakh for the family of the deceased.

In New Delhi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi condemed the Bangalore serial blasts as cowardly acts by people wanting to disturb peace in the country, particularly the region.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said such incidents would not deter the government from pursuing its policy of dealing with anti-nationals in a resolute manner.

The Centre has...Eds pl pick up from line one, para three of DR 45 BLAST OVERALL LEAD KARNATAKA TWO BANGALORE/NEW DELHI.

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